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Bern Leckie and Owen Lynch share thoughts and feelings about 1 Samuel chapter 21 through to 2 Samuel chapter 10.The rise of King David is inspiring, like a hero story, although with some tragic twists to come. David’s initial struggles don’t just show his character as he hopes and trusts in God, but he meets creatively with God and ends up expressing all kinds of relatable conflict through the poetry and songs of the Psalms.This made Bern and Owen reflect on their chances to be creative, what attracted them to Vineyard as a church movement, and how creativity with God is working out for them. It’s not all about music and creative arts, but the creativity needed to build relationships and be parents. Can we learn about doing this well through David’s vulnerability and honesty, as well as his creative expressions of joy, hope, pain and longing in life?David was blessed by God with success and, at the peak of his achievements, he offered to build God a house. In one of the Bible’s most significant twists, God then offered to build David a house - not a temple, but a family line which would be the backbone of the Jewish nation, but also lead to a saviour and fulfilment of God’s promise to make his people a light to the world.The next part of our boxset will look at the rest of 2 Samuel as well as Psalms 42 to 51. Listen along at your own pace at severnvineyard.org/bible.

Why is forgiveness so important? Rossie Henderson-Begg looks at what Jesus talked and showed about this, and considers what happens when we can, or can’t, find forgiveness ourselves. Can our ability and choice to forgive have a profound effect on us, as well as people we know?

Bern Leckie and Owen Lynch share thoughts and feelings about the first book of Samuel, chapters 1 to 20.What sort of kingdom did God want to build, and how was this shown when it worked well, and not so well? The rules had been set about who was meant to do what, but Samuel was a surprising addition to the line of priests who would mediate between people and God. Born of faith and dedicated in faithfulness, Samuel listened and was responsive to God, so under his leadership, people could know what God’s leadership was like.In contrast, Israel’s next leader was a strong man, loved for his appearance and for getting things done, but more likely to do things his own way than God’s way.What can we learn from these people? Who do we really want to be our leaders, and how do we want to live in God’s kingdom ourselves?The next part of our boxset will look at the rest of 1 Samuel as well as 2 Samuel chapters 1 to 10. Listen along at your own pace at severnvineyard.org/bible.

What is hell, and where have we got our ideas about this from? Claire Lynch looks at the stories and images in the Bible that relate to this, and how people in the Bible, including Jesus, communicated by referring to concepts that were meaningful and resonant with their audience. These included ideas drawn from Hebrew and neighbouring cultures, and were quite different from the imagery which became common to describe hell much later in western culture. Could the ideas of eternal, conscious torment and separation from God be based on misunderstandings or misapplications of the Bible? If so, what can we learn from the Bible, its prophecies, teachings and the words of Jesus to give us a better understanding of what God might do with us when we die?

Bern Leckie and Owen Lynch share thoughts and feelings about the books of Ruth and Esther, as well as Proverbs chapters 10 to 18.What does it mean to be Jewish, or part of any meaningful group? The stories of Ruth and Esther are perspectives on this, both celebrated for what they can show us about faith, courage, loss and redemption, but differing in emphasis and perhaps what people might conclude from them.Esther’s story was shared when Jewish people were scattered across the ancient world and needed reminding and encouraging about their shared identity and specialness. Others posed threats to their existence, but they could still prevail and thrive as a people, and remember this in the annual celebration of Purim.Ruth’s story has a different perspective on the role of outsiders, demonstrating how a foreigner who shared the Jewish values of loyalty and love could find themselves grafted into the family tree. What happened with Ruth would lead to descendants King David, who would show what closeness to God looked like in worship, and Jesus, who would bring God’s kingdom close enough for everyone to grasp.Can engaging with these stories, along with the Proverbs, highlight where we might be struggling with fear, loss or division between people, and encourage us to seek God’s perspective?The next part of our boxset will look at the book 1 Samuel, chapters 1 to 20. Listen along at your own pace at severnvineyard.org/bible.

Bern Leckie and Owen Lynch share thoughts and feelings about the book of Judges.There are lots of gory stories which aren’t suitable for Sunday School (Bern shares an embarrassing Dad moment…) and it’s hard to find good role models, but perhaps Gideon comes close in the way he consults and responds to God, ready to do surprising things with humility when asked.In contrast, Samson looks like the kind of “strong man” leader who makes the most of their God-given blessings and look like they’re good at getting things done, but turn out to be fatally flawed. Does he remind us of anyone?It can be tragic when we have God in our culture but not in our hearts. How much more can we expect from ourselves, each other and our leaders if we can really be guided by God and not misuse his culture, name, power, and the opportunities he’s given us?The next part of our boxset will look at the books of Ruth and Esther, as well as Proverbs chapters 10 to 18. Listen along at your own pace at severnvineyard.org/bible.

How far would this revolution go? Owen Lynch looks at the way scattered believers in the early days of the church encountered new believers who looked like they would not fit in. While the law, as people understood it, seemed to put them on the margins or outside the boundaries of acceptability, an African eunuch had not only found status in a royal household, but also found scripture which pointed them to Jesus. Why was their baptism so remarkable? How could it revolutionise religious people’s understanding - and ours - of the Kingdom of God?

Bern Leckie and Owen Lynch share thoughts and feelings about the book of Joshua.At face value, this story of the establishment of Israel in its promised land is a combination of glory and horror - there is new life for God’s people, but a lot of death for almost everyone else.It’s important to consider how people at the time would have heard and understood these stories, which don’t fit together in a way which allows anyone to take them too literally. Scholars differ in their interpretations, but there is a strong case for finding the truth in the meaning of what is shared through symbols and hyperbole.What does it mean that God was credited for bringing people across the river and acting decisively in battle? What difference does it make that this was not a kingdom being established by human effort but by God? And what difference would it make to us today if we recognised that what we thought was ours really belongs to God, and that we can trust him to guide us?The next part of our boxset will look at the book of Judges. Listen along at your own pace at severnvineyard.org/bible.

Do we get that there’s a massive movement building? Owen Lynch looks at the growing expectation among Jesus’ followers early in the book of Acts that their world would change. Believers were living in revolutionary ways which changed how they saw and handled possessions, hoped and worked for equality, and fought and dealt with corruption. There began to be deadly consequences, both for a couple whose corruption undermined the integrity of the movement, and for man inspired by God to share the movement’s story as part of the history of Israel. These stories might be familiar to us, but we might have read wrongly or applied them unhelpfully if we haven’t understood their context. What can we do to understand and learn from them better today?

Bern Leckie and Owen Lynch share thoughts and feelings about the book of Job.In lots of ways, this is a puzzling story that might seem not to fit well into the Bible - although that might depend on how we read the rest of the Bible. If we think it has given us explanations of why things work and rules we can follow with predictable results, we might be a bit like Job’s friends when we think someone needs our help or advice.The challenge of Job’s story is that they are not as wise as they thought, and that we can’t always get answers to “why” questions or explain difficult situations.But the encouragement seems to be that God offers a different path to life through being open to experiences that surpass our understanding, growing relationships and trust, and discovering that life-supporting wisdom is not always the same as life-explaining knowledge. The next part of our boxset will look at the book of Joshua. Listen along at your own pace at severnvineyard.org/bible.

What does it mean to deny ourselves, and what difference can this make? Kyle Henderson-Begg looks at what Jesus showed and taught, and what his followers came to believe about this. What are the advantages of self-control, and where can we find more strength to benefit from this?

Bern Leckie and Owen Lynch share thoughts and feelings about the gospel according to Mark.Looking at the history leading up to the time of Jesus, they reflect on the significance of Jesus' life and what it meant to live in and look forward to the kingdom of God. Where was, and is, the "battlefront" that establishes it? Between nations, between people, or between conflicting parts of ourselves? Did the way Jesus presented himself as leader fit anyone's expectations? And if not, could the role of the gospels (and the rest of scripture) be less about pinning us to rules and routines, and more about getting us ready to have our minds changed by God, in ways that are still happening?The next part of our boxset will look at the book of Job. Listen along at your own pace at severnvineyard.org/bible.

In a bonus episode for Easter, Bern Leckie and Claire Lynch discuss the different views available in the Bible on the meaning and purpose of Jesus' death, as well as his resurrection and what these mean for us.We could regard the whole business as mystery, or pick a clear and simple explanation. One which is widely shared is "penal substitutionary atonement", the idea that Jesus had to die to take the necessary punishment from God that our sins deserve.There are Bible verses which seem to refer to this, but how should we interpret them? What view of God would they give us, and how would we see ourselves and other people, if this were the main reason for what happened to Jesus on the cross?Bern and Claire also look at other ways that scholars through history have made sense of Jesus' death and resurrection, and how this may also have looked to people at the time of Jesus with little or no knowledge of Jewish theology, but who are still found responding to Jesus' death in the gospel accounts.The meaning of Psalm 22 is also considered. It starts, "My God, my God, why have you foresaken me?" and Jesus is recorded as saying those words on the cross. Had God really turned away because of our sin? Or does the rest of Psalm 22 tell a different story? Bern and Claire suggest reading or listening and praying this through, not just to understand but also see where we might relate to it.

Bern Leckie and Owen Lynch share thoughts and feelings about the end of the book of Numbers, chapters 17 to 36.What’s so important about giving glory to God, or credit where it’s due to anyone? Bern shares his experiences of the difference that people sharing credit for their sources makes to workplaces. It took him a long time to make the connection that this might be a value received from God, but it now seems crucial to him for being able to remain healthy, responsive and able to grow into doing new things instead of becoming unhealthy, defensive and stuck in old ways.Owen shares his highlights from Numbers of a talking donkey and its part in a story about God’s unconditional provision, protection and presence. Even when God seems distant or cannot be seen directly, can we be encouraged by the stories that God has worked in amazing ways with all kinds of people to bless and protect?The next part of our boxset will look at the whole of Mark’s gospel. Listen along at your own pace at severnvineyard.org/bible.

Jesus died on the cross and rose again, but why? Can the way this makes a difference to people be summed up in one simple, shareable idea? Claire Lynch continues her talk about the different ways this is described in the Bible, and why focusing on only one of them can distort our views of God and each other. The ideas of sacrifice and covenant are rich in meaning and hard to grasp in full, but can growing our understanding of them help to grow our sense of God’s love for us and what God wants to do with us?

Bern Leckie and Owen Lynch share thoughts and feelings about the start of the book of Numbers, chapters 1 to 16, as well as Psalms 38 to 41.Numbers can be a tricky book to make sense of, seeming like a patchwork of pictures shared for different purposes which might not fit together as neatly as we think they should. But these purposes are important and reveal ways of life which could recognise the specialness of God and an ideal quality of life people would struggle to attain. There would be consequences for actions, but also ways to restore relationships. God’s people were ultimately a family, bound together by common history and heritage.Reading Numbers as a set of religious rules might make us overlook this, but hearing it as a reminder of relationships and why they are important can point us towards God and what he has been doing through history to rebuild relationships and restore people to good, love-driven life. This is something the author of Psalms 38 to 41 seems to need and want desperately.The next part of our boxset will look at beginning of the end of Numbers, chapters 17 to 36. Listen along at your own pace at severnvineyard.org/bible.

Good news - Jesus’ life, death and resurrection helps us to restore good relationships with God - but how does this work? Claire Lynch looks at different ways of explaining this which emphasise different parts of the Bible and might serve as helpful pictures or analogies. But it’s also possible that too much stress or reliance on one picture will distort our view of God and his character. Can we gain something from these pictures while also keeping our eyes on Jesus to understand what God is really like?

Bern Leckie and Owen Lynch share thoughts and feelings about the end of the book of Leviticus, chapters 16 to 27, and the start of Proverbs, chapters 1 to 9.It can seem hard to make sense of some ancient laws, and even harder to know what to make of their relevance to us today. Leviticus describes a covenant set out by a powerful Lord as conditions for his presence to remain with people. The overall purpose seems to be to establish a social order, giving God’s chosen people a distinct identity and maintaining the Lord’s good reputation. But scholars have debated the meaning, purpose and application of specific parts of Leviticus throughout history.Some contemporary scholars have started to view Leviticus as less like statute law and more similar to wisdom literature, like Proverbs.Looking at Proverbs alongside Leviticus, it seems that wisdom is the key needed to understand and apply good judgement, as well as the source of good decision making. Could it be more important to grasp what “the fear of the Lord” means than to try and master our understanding of ancient law?The next part of our boxset will look at beginning of the book of Numbers, chapters 1 to 16, as well as Psalms 38 to 41. Listen along at your own pace at severnvineyard.org/bible.

What if you expected a power struggle in your life? Owen Lynch looks at Jesus’ followers soon after his resurrection and ascension to heaven, and the giving of his Holy Spirit, which came with power. Peter and the other disciples expected a new Kingdom to come which would challenge the ruling authorities, political and religious. These authorities would not react well. But what did each party want and believe, and how would they handle their conflicts? 

Bern Leckie and Owen Lynch share thoughts and feelings about the start of the book of Leviticus, chapters 1 to 15, and Psalms 29 to 37.There is a lot to talk about here, including the role Leviticus played in the lives of its original audience. While many have understood it to be the source of statute law, both modern scholarship and the rest of the Bible suggest that judges may have been more used to building common law through their use of wisdom. The purpose of Leviticus may be mainly to draw Israel’s attention to their source of that wisdom, a powerful Lord who wanted to establish social order so that his presence would be recognised and his name respected.A good source text on this is “The Lost World of the Torah” by John H. Walton and J. Harvey Walton.Looking at Leviticus like this should make us question the approach of trying to glean it for moral principles that are meant to apply today. Instead, we can appreciate its purpose to begin building a people with God’s presence who could be a light to the world.The Psalms illustrate the power of faith in God and how trusting him to be present can help people overcome in a wide range of conflicts from personal to international. The next part of our boxset will look at the end of Leviticus, chapters 16 to 27, as well as Proverbs chapters 1 to 9. Listen along at your own pace at severnvineyard.org/bible.

What difference can it make to foster or adopt children? Anna Simmons describes her experience of becoming part of God’s family and, after having children, the decision they made to become a fostering family. Home For Good helps to find homes for the thousands of children that need them - find out more about them at homeforgood.org.uk

Bern Leckie and Owen Lynch share thoughts and feelings about the end of the book of Exodus, chapters 23 to 40.People see Moses go up a fearsome looking mountain into God’s presence, and there is a lot to discuss about what it means to be in the presence of God - how do we experience this today?Two contrasting stories emerge in this part of Exodus about faithful and unfaithful response to God. The unfaithfulness seems odd, hard to explain and tragic. But the faithfulness results in people bringing themselves, their treasures and talents together, making something which glorifies God and celebrates the relationships his people can build with him at their centre.The next part of our boxset will look at the beginning of Leviticus, chapters 1 to 15, as well as Psalms 29 to 37. Listen along at your own pace at severnvineyard.org/bible.

Bern Leckie and Owen Lynch share thoughts and feelings about the beginning of the book of Exodus, chapters 1 to 22.There is a lot of important story to process here, beginning with the loss of good relationship between Egypt and the family of Israel, but with changes coming thanks to what God does through Moses.It’s the foundational story of Israel as a distinctive people, ultimately a nation, but it also seems to be a universally relevant story about the relationship between good and evil, life with potential and the forces that block its fulfilment.These aren’t just abstract ideas or the reasons for international conflicts, but real battles we face in and between ourselves personally.Is this also a story about how God is involved with more aspects of our life than we might sometimes credit? Ancient people thought of gods as part of what they couldn’t otherwise explain in the world, but what if this God of Israel wanted to be the foundation for the whole of life?The next part of our boxset will look at the rest of Exodus, chapters 23 to 40. Listen along at your own pace at severnvineyard.org/bible.

How did Jesus give his followers power after he went up to heaven, and what was this for? Owen Lynch looks at what happened at Pentecost, a Jewish celebration of the founding of their nation, and how Jews who had grown up in many different cultures heard Jesus’ disciples in their own languages. A community of hope was gathering around one story which was including and uniting a diversity of people without destroying their origins, and it had the signatures of God at work among them. What would it do?

In this episode, Bern Leckie and Owen Lynch share thoughts and feelings about the end of the book of Genesis, chapters 45 to 50, and Psalms 1 to 28.The story of Joseph ends in a good place relationally, with reconciliation, forgiveness and restoration - it’s a picture of hope. But it’s also clear that there is more to come, both for Israel’s family and the rest of the world.Psalms contrast with the Bible’s stories as they seem to be personal expressions across a range of emotions and situations, but they are also inspired by God, connected with his heart and concerns, and relevant to how we process the biggest issues in life together as communities.Both of these parts of the Bible make us think about relationships - could God be grabbing our attention about this?The next part of our boxset will look at life for God’s people after some important relationships were forgotten, and Israel’s family story takes a new direction in Exodus chapters 1 to 22. Listen along at your own pace at severnvineyard.org/bible.

What would you want and expect if you were promised power? Owen Lynch looks at the situation of Jesus’ first followers and the ways they were desperate for their country to be run differently and better. When Jesus overcame execution by the authorities, rose from death and promised the arrival of the Kingdom of God, what did the people closest to him expect? What would their promised power look like, and what they want to do with it? And for us, what are wanting, expecting and hoping to see God do in our lifetimes?

We’re on a boxset binge through the Bible, and in this episode, Bern Leckie and Owen Lynch share thoughts and feelings about the middle of the book of Genesis, chapters 25 to 44.This could be well described as a family story and, as with many families, it can get a bit messy. Far from being a set of neat moral tales, it’s an account of people causing and dealing with difficulties. They are not perfect people, but they are loved and valued. After much gets broken by people’s weaknesses, what starts to get shown is how people can find redemption and restoration through relationship, which is the foundation of the Bible’s big story.The next bit of our boxset will be Genesis chapters 45 to 50 and Psalms 1 to 28. Listen along at your own pace at severnvineyard.org/bible.

What does it mean to have a relationship with God, and what should we expect from one? Claire Lynch looks at the way mistaken ideas about someone’s character can misshape our relationship with them, and how important it can be to learn what someone is really like through an authentic relationship. God made us in his image, giving us the capacity for relating to him, as well as reflecting his character and representing this in our relationships with people. What aspects of God’s character would you most like to show more in your life? The talk concludes with a reflection about this, including an illustration listing these qualities of God: loving, generous, self-giving, kind, forgiving, faithful, patient, self-controlled, good, honest, trustworthy, gracious, and compassionate. Find more at https://www.severnvineyard.org/sunday-talks-bloglist/2024/2/4/relating-reflecting-and-representing-god-by-claire-lynch-4-february-2024

We’re on a boxset binge through the Bible, and in this episode, Bern Leckie and Owen Lynch share thoughts and feelings about the very beginning, Genesis chapters 1 to 24.What is described at the start of the Bible has been the subject of much discussion over centuries. People take different views on interpreting it, but most agree that it is an awesome statement of the wonder of life and the way order can emerge from raw materials. Bern and Owen look at the view of Bible scholar John H. Walton, author of The Lost World of Genesis One, that ancient people would have likened the Bible’s first story to the construction of a temple, a place where heaven meets earth. Remarkably, the image of God that is central to a temple is described as being in each of us.What does this mean for our view of human potential? How does it lay the foundation for the rest of the Bible’s story about people’s instincts and actions which conflict with our God-given value and purpose? And does the Bible describe the ultimate remedy for this as religious order for a few people, or is religion only pointing the way towards something better for everyone?The next part of our boxset will be Genesis chapters 25 to 44. Listen along at your own pace at severnvineyard.org/bible.

What is our hope and vision for the year ahead? Claire and Owen Lynch look back on what God did in and through Severn last year, and present our aims and what we need looking forward. In an election year, we probably won’t be short of promises to make life better, and as we take inspiration from Jesus for how God can really deliver this, we are aiming to live by four values that we find in Jesus: authenticity, generosity, inclusivity and courage. Finding hope in Jesus that we can put these values into practice is going to shape our year ahead together.Find more about joining one of our teams at severnvineyard.org/teams, and info about financial giving at severnvineyard.org/giving

We’re on a boxset binge through the Bible, and in this episode, Bern Leckie and Owen Lynch share thoughts and feelings about Acts of the Apostles, chapters 10 to 28.Peter gets a mind-blowing revelation from God which ends up changing how believers in Jesus saw themselves, other people, and the whole purpose of religion and its laws. This story is told by Luke who, we learn, joined in the missionary journeys to spread news of God at work in the world, and would have shared the perspective of people having their minds changed as their relationships and practical experience of a Spirit-filled people grew. Bern and Owen reflect on Luke’s purposes for writing, and how we might be intended to get ready for having our minds changed as we see and do things differently too.The next bit of our boxset will be Genesis chapters 1 to 24. Listen along at your own pace at severnvineyard.org/bible.

We’re on a boxset binge through the Bible, and in this episode, Bern Leckie and Owen Lynch share thoughts and feelings about the Luke’s Gospel chapters 15 to 24 and its sequel, Acts of the Apostles, chapters 1 to 9.Luke’s story about Jesus and the surprisingly inclusive Kingdom of God continues with demonstrations of the power God wants people to have, to overcome suffering, injustice, and even death. This power reconnects people with God in ways which can cause tremendous thankfulness and praise in those experiencing it.Bern and Owen reflect on how this is moving them to see and do things differently, and look forward to the next episodes in the boxset: Acts of the Apostles chapters 10 to 28. Listen along at your own pace at severnvineyard.org/bible.

What does it mean to have hope in Jesus? Owen Lynch looks at the difficulties and divisions in society in Jesus’ time and we might relate to some of them today. People were not looking for a nice idea to make them feel better, they needed a restoration of hope, and the way Jesus offered this transformed their world. How can it do the same for us?This talk on Luke’s Gospel will be followed by a series on Acts of the Apostles, starting in February 2024.

We've started on a boxset binge through the Bible, and in this episode, Bern Leckie and Owen Lynch share thoughts and feelings about Luke's gospel chapters 1 to 14.Luke is telling a story which is rooted in Jewish beliefs and customs, but turns out to be inclusive for everyone. In a difficult time, Jesus seems to challenge every authority and offer the love, power and hope that is desperately needed and sought for changing the world. But the coming of God's kingdom, as Jesus demonstrates it, isn't about some powerful people having their way as much as it's about God changing the minds of everyone was comfortable or thought they were righteous.Bern and Owen reflect on how this is shaping their lives today, and look forward to the next episodes in the boxset: Luke chapters 15 to 24 and Acts of the Apostles chapters 1 to 9. Listen along at your own pace at severnvineyard.org/bible.

Did you know there's a surprising way you can feel happier, right away, right now? Claire Lynch looks at the power of thankfulness, including its proven ability to make us feel more satisfied, while also improving our relationships when approached in certain ways. It's also a major theme in the Bible, part of healthy personal and community life with God. Claire concludes this talk with a ten-minute "examen" reflection to help connect our experiences, relationships and hopes with thanks, goodness and God.

In the first week of our boxset binge, we're introduced to Jesus by Luke, telling his story for the benefit of people who were interested in the God of the Jews, but were not themselves Jewish.Our suggestion is to listen to the first 14 chapters of Luke's Gospel this week - they'll take about an hour and forty minutes (at 1x speed) from our recommended NIV UK version, read by David Suchet, available in many Bible apps or directly at https://www.biblegateway.com/audio/suchet/nivuk/Luke.1We're sharing a few of our thoughts and expectations here, and next week, we'll share how these passages made us think, feel and move. Get in touch if you'd like to tell us how they've struck you too!

The Bible is an amazing collection of literature which some say can help us hear God. It has a big story, told through lots of smaller stories. It's full of engaging characters who are each part of something much bigger than themselves.In this podcast, Bern Leckie and Owen Lynch discuss how listening through the whole Bible, and noticing how it makes us think, feel and move, can connect us with something bigger than ourselves too, and included in the epic work that God has been doing through history.Top tips for getting through the Bible in a year include listening to a good version - we recommend the NIV UK audio Bible narrated by David Suchet, available in many Bible apps and linked from our website, severnvineyard.org/bible, where you can also find and follow the whole boxset binge plan for the year.

What does it mean that Jesus’ birth was written in the stars? Owen Lynch looks at the hopes and expectations which were carried by Israel’s promised Messiah, and how people had a range of reactions when it seemed like this person could have arrived. This Christmas, will we find that Jesus leaves us indifferent, resistant, or starstruck?

How would you react to news that rocked your sense of who you were and what to expect from life? Owen Lynch looks at the ways one family in Israel would have been shaken by the news of expecting a child, and how this child would have an historic role which would surprise everyone. However, along with the shock came a call to trust. What does it mean that we can trust God, and grow to trust each other, and that God trusts us?

What is it like to approach Jesus and faith like a child? Bern Leckie shares his experiences of growing up in a religious community and how some things seemed to make more sense than others. When Jesus told people they had to receive God’s kingdom like little children, what did he mean? Was he telling people to be mild and obedient, or hoping that they’d receive the enormous superpower of God’s love and enjoy finding out what it could do in and through them? And is this love only for a special people, or for everyone?

What can we expect from life with God? David Jennings shares his experience of being in the middle of life-changing things like people being freed from addiction, and finding that this can still be messy and difficult. Jesus promised the reality of God’s kingdom would start to be visible in our lifetimes, so how do we deal with the tension of this being both “now” and “not yet”?

How did the idea that God is angry with people become widespread, and is it true? Claire Lynch looks at some of the ways in history that people have formed a view of God, in many ways shaped by developing understandings of themselves. Pictures of God’s wrath seem easy to find in the Old Testament, but was there also something bigger, stronger and longer lasting being revealed? Jesus and the New Testament can make God look very different. Is this a change in God’s nature, or more of a fulfilment and completion of a picture we can now understand by following Jesus?Find more from this series at severnvineyard.org/whatisgodlike

How can we find strength by embracing our weaknesses? Owen Lynch shares about the choices he has faced in dealing with imperfections and needing to decide between denial and defensiveness or acceptance and vulnerability. Jesus told the story of the son whose admission of weakness led to stronger connection with his father than the son who claimed to have done everything right. What difference could it make to be honest about weakness with ourselves, God and someone we trust?Find more resources to help with spiritual and emotional health at severnvineyard.org/health

How does it help us to deal with pain and loss? Owen Lynch looks at some of the effects that loss-bringing change can have on us, from adjustments in work and family life to the death of someone close. Psalms in the Bible can reflect some of our feelings and direct our attention to God for sharing them. Can we find hope in a relationship with God that brings to life Jesus’ ultimate confrontation with death itself? At the end of this talk, we turn to pray for people in difficult situations around the world.Find more resources to help with spiritual and emotional health at severnvineyard.org/health

How can it be good to accept some limitations in life instead of striving to overcome them all? Owen Lynch looks at how this has applied to him and, maybe surprisingly, takes Jesus as an example of someone whose choice to live within limits may have set us a good pattern for a healthy life. This is not about limitations imposed by society on the grounds of race, class or gender, but about considering how we are uniquely shaped and equipped by our personalities, life seasons and situations, our emotional, physical and intellectual capacities, and our personal histories, including wounds or traumas.There’s time at the end to reflect and try to recognise some of these limitations which shape us, and consider which of them we might embrace, accept or discuss with friends.Find more resources to help with spiritual and emotional health at severnvineyard.org/health

How are we shaped by our family histories, and what can we do about this? Owen Lynch looks at repeating patterns of behaviour in himself and his own family, as well as stories of families shared in the Bible. Jesus offered another way of life he described as being “born again” - but what does this mean for us?Find more resources to help with spiritual and emotional health at severnvineyard.org/health

What do we need for healthy spiritual and emotional life? Owen Lynch looks at the links between spiritual and emotional health, what we see happening on our surfaces and what might be going on beneath. What can we do to get a better understanding of what’s formed us and how can we deal with stress, pain and - when needed - change? See more about how we sometimes discuss life together in a structured way at severnvineyard.org/triplets 

What difference does it make to believe that God is present, protects and provides today? Owen Lynch shares what the gospel means about God’s role in his life, in a context where fewer and fewer friends and colleagues might believe in God or go to church. Can we draw lessons from history about what religious institutions do under pressure, and can we follow Jesus into a different way of life?

What does it mean to rethink, and how can this change our view of faith and life? Liz Nixon looks at the difference it has made to change her mind and see God as primarily a father, and the influence this has had when relating to God in prayer, being a parent and learning to recognise God’s voice to share words from him.

Why do people call Jesus’ teaching about a new kingdom good news? Jack Saunders looks at the different kinds of kings, kingdoms and driving forces people have experienced and compares what it means to be led by them or led by Jesus.